Two goals from Papiss Cisse either side of a wonderful strike from the former Marseille man earned the Magpies a second successive win and put qualification for the Champions League back on the agenda.

Despite Pardew’s insistence that the Tyneside club does not have the resources to cope, by the time Tottenham kick-off against Swansea next Sunday the gap between them and the fourth-placed club could be down to two points.

Standing between them will, of course, be Liverpool. But the manner in which the visitors dismantled Roy Hodgson’s hitherto well-drilled side should see them enter that fixture full of confidence.

The interplay and movement between Cisse, Demba Ba and Yohan Cabaye has been a hallmark of an impressive campaign.

Toss Ben Arfa, 25, into the mix and Newcastle suddenly have an attack with the kind of potency they have not possessed since Alan Shearer, Les Ferdinand and David Ginola were tearing it up at St James’ Park.

No wonder they were so upset on Tyneside over Nigel de Jong’s tackle 18 months ago which broke the Frenchman’s leg in two places.

‘He’s a special talent which I’m sure will be highlighted in the next couple of days,’ said Pardew.

‘He’s been out so long you can see the hunger in him. He has knuckled down and is a much more controlled person in his manner and the way he is around the training ground.

In vain: Foster is well beaten by Hatem Ben Arfa (hidden) as Newcastle double their lead

'In the past there has been this reputation that he has been an ‘enfant terrible’. He has been immaculate with us and has really got his mind in the right place.’

Ben Arfa was outstanding on an afternoon when West Brom were pulled in several different directions by Newcastle’s front players.

Solo effort: Hatem Ben Arfa acknowledges the fans after adding a second for Newcastle

It is unusual to see one of Hodgson’s teams pulled about so much. Ben Foster had already tipped one effort by Ba over the crossbar when Newcastle struck in the sixth minute.

West Brom went out to press the ball from the ensuing corner when it found Jonas Gutierrez on the edge of the area. Unfortunately, they did so without any regard to the other Newcastle players.

The winger threaded a simple ball to Ben Arfa, whose low cross was slotted home by Cisse.

Points in the bag: Newcastle's victory is sealed thanks to Cisse's second of the game

Ben Arfa then created and finished the second after gaining possession on the edge of his own penalty area with 12 minutes played. He exchanged passes with Cabaye before surging forward.

Liam Ridgewell’s attempt to stop him on the halfway line saw the ball picked up by Cisse.Arfa continued his run and when a pass was delivered into his path, he cut inside Jonas Olsson before finding the net with a fine finish.

Hodgson prides himself on the organisation of his teams. But West Brom simply could not get to grips with the manner in which Pardew’s midfield moved around. When the Magpies added a third shortly before the break, it was direct running at West Brom’s rearguard which again caused problems.

Easy street: Cisse kisses the turf after putting Newcastle in cruise control with their third goal

This time Ben Arfa picked up possession and fed Ba. The Senegalese created space for his overlapping colleague with a wonderfully disguised reverse pass.

Newcastle’s top scorer tried to reach the pull-back but was bundled over by Keith Andrews. It didn’t matter as Cisse was in support and swept the ball past Foster.

West Brom did pull one back seven minutes after the break when Youssouf Mulumbu’s long ball was chased by Peter Odemwingie. Mike Williamson and Tim Krul banged into one another and the ball found Shane Long, who finished into an empty net.

Mix up: Shane Long takes advantage of confusion in the Newcastle defence to score a consolation goal

Seen enough: West Brom fans leave the Hawthorns as their side were thrashed by Newcastle

‘At half time we were looking down a barrel,’ said Hodgson. ‘It is consolation of a sort that we won the second half. But their passing and movement was very good. The quality they showed was far superior to that which we did. A lot of our players had an off-day on the ball.’

Had no chance with any of Newcastle’s three goals but second-half saves from Papiss Cisse and Hatem Ben Arfa spared his West Bromwich Albion team-mates a heavier defeat. Showing some of the form that made him an England international.

Fabricio Coloccini

The Newcastle centre-half looked his assured self until a hamstring injury forced him off at half-time. Alan Pardew faces being without his influential defender for the next three weeks.

Papiss Cisse

The finishing by Newcastle’s Senegal striker was of the highest order and a goals return of five from six matches is proof that Pardew has plucked another gem out of Africa after the success of Cisse’s compatriot, Demba Ba.